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The Despot's Apprentice  By  cover art

The Despot's Apprentice

By: Brian Klaas,David Talbot - foreword
Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
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Publisher's summary

An ex-US campaign advisor who has sat with the world's dictators explains Donald Trump's increasingly authoritarian tactics and the threat they pose to American democracy.

Donald Trump isn't a despot. But he is increasingly acting like the "despot's apprentice", an understudy in authoritarian tactics that threaten to erode American democracy, including attacking the press, threatening rule of law by firing those who investigate his alleged wrongdoings, using nepotism to staff the White House, and countless other techniques.

Donald Trump is borrowing tactics from the world's dictators and despots. Trump's fascination with the military, his obsession with his own cult of personality, and his deliberate campaign to blur the line between fact and falsehood are nothing new to the world of despots. But they are new to the United States. With each authoritarian tactic or tweet, Trump poses a unique threat to democratic government in the world's most powerful democracy.

At the same time, Trump's apprenticeship has serious consequences beyond the United States. His bizarre adoration and idolization of despotic strongmen - from Russia's Putin, to Turkey's Erdogan, or to the Philippines' Duterte - has transformed American foreign policy into a powerful cheerleader for some of the world's worst regimes.

The Despot's Apprentice: Donald Trump's Attack on Democracy explores how Trump uniquely threatens democracy - and how to save it from him.

©2017 Brian Klaas, David Talbot (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about The Despot's Apprentice

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Terrifying But Encouraging

I found this book difficult to to listen to in more than small segments because the truth of the author’s message is so frightening. But I highly recommend everyone who loves our country stick with the narrative to the end it’s important as a guide for now and the future.

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25 people found this helpful

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Excellent!

I liked this book a lot. Listened to it all in one day. Brought a wide variety of stories about Trump together with the analysis of its affect on America.

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22 people found this helpful

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Analysis of our condition

This book looks at the potential abyss of autocracy and dictatorship that might engulf the U. S, if current trends are not reversed by an informed citizenry. Recommend it to all.

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17 people found this helpful

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interesting, if overly focused on Trump

Overall a really interesting title, with the only drawback being how it focuses on Trump's actions and those of his family, with similarities drawn to other despots. In a way it would have been more interesting to look at all despotic behaviours and then see how Trump aligns, but that would also have been a much larger work.

Very engaging and well structured. Some minor issues with the performance, where it get's into character of Shakespeare's King Lear and similar accents which only happens in two or three places, which made it so weird. Also the author seems to get frustrated in a couple of places, and again it seems odd at the time because other aspects of the discussion seem like they should have induced this too. Otherwise fantastic.

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13 people found this helpful

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A must

This helps any American understand so many things that trump has done and stands up for. Personally I recommend listening on 1.5-1.7 speed for a quicker dialogue and listen. Highly recommended book to all Americans and people around the world that want to know about our shitty ass excuse for a president

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11 people found this helpful

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Just wow

I waited until 2021 to listen to this and wow! Very prescient. We have all seen just how fragile our democracy is. But it is always worth fighting for.

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9 people found this helpful

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Compelling and convicting

This book clarified what makes me uncomfortable about Trump; also, why it makes me nervous when his fans seem immune to any such discomfort. It also renewed my sense of responsibility as a citizen of the USA. I am glad to have recommitted myself to not taking my freedoms for granted, and not caving in to the current ethos of anger and division.

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8 people found this helpful

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Incorrect Information Identified

Overall, I believe the book was fair and had an interesting story, particularly the comparison of Trump's behavior to those of actual despotic regimes worldwide. However, I noticed a few hours in that the author erroneously referred to Michael Flynn as the former Director of National Intelligence. Michael Flynn was never Director of National Intelligence. Rather, he was the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and was Trump's National Security Advisor.

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7 people found this helpful

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Must Get Book. Definitely a 10

This book is very easy to follow. The speaker does a wonderful job and has a nice voice. It's straight forward and very informative. No political options. just facts.

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6 people found this helpful

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half truths and gas lighting

the truth is and has been a good president. all politicians lie the only thing that matters is what they put in writing.

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4 people found this helpful